ROFFER’S OCEAN FISHING FORECASTING SERVICE, INC.
TOLL FREE 800 677-7633 & (321) 723-5759 // EMAIL: fish7@roffs.com
ROFFS™ FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS REGIONAL SPECIAL
FOR CAPE HATTERAS TO ATLANTIS CANYON (LAT./LONG.)
UPDATED ON TUES. 18 AUG. 2015
We are providing an update today as the skies are clear and the conditions warrant the larger area update. We are using today infrared (sea surface temperature) and yesterday’s ocean color. The ocean color imagery was derived from two different satellites and allows us to provide a more complete image of the entire area at one time as clouds moved over the southern canyons, south of the Baltimore Canyon this afternoon.
The Gulf Stream is oriented more northeastward after turning northward toward the Norfolk Canyon over the last few days. During the last few days including today a new supply of Gulf Stream water and presumably fish have entered the Norfolk Canyon and Washington Canyon areas. As the meander in the Gulf Stream moves eastward the Gulf Stream effectively is moving away from the Norfolk Canyon and the eastward pull of the water has resulted in the Washington Canyon eddy to move more southward. It remains to be seen over the next 5-10 days whether the eddy will continue move eastward and absorbed by the Gulf Stream or drift southward to be absorbed by the Gulf Stream east of the Virginia – North Carolina border. The important concept is that new Gulf Stream water and presumably fish is likely to enhances one’s chances for fishing action over the Norfolk Canyon in particular. The offshore pull by the eddy is likely to result in a substantial decline in the fishing action over the Washington Canyon after tomorrow as the greener coastal water will be pulled over the canyon.
The offshore motion and pull of the Gulf Stream is causing the offshore waters over the Lindenkohl Canyon to Poor Mans Canyon to move in south-southeastward motion. This is not favorable for enhancing the concentration mechanisms of the water mass boundaries. Offshore flow is usually one indicator that fishing action is likely to decline with the fishing action spread over a large area rather than being concentrated in one location. The flow is not especially strong so the degeneration of the fish concentrations will be slower compared with when the water is moving much more rapidly offshore. There are some areas where the offshore flow is actually pushing water over ledges and over these areas the flow is enhancing the water mass boundaries concentration mechanisms. The Rock Piles south of the Poor Mans Canyon and perhaps the northeast corner of the Washington Canyon. But over the Washington Canyon the water is being pulled mush faster offshore. Any sea mounts or lumps – humps will have flow into them to enhance the fishing action. But presently the flow is not particularly strong to result in a substantial increase in the fishing action.
Over the inshore parts of the Wilmington Canyon to Poor Mans Canyon the flow is more southwestward for the time being. If the wind chances or there is a sudden acceleration of the offshore motion of the Gulf Stream, this is likely to change.
The good news is that a finger filament of blue Gulf Stream water (81°F) continues to slowly move in a southwest motion from the Hudson Canon over the 500-1000 fathom depths of the Toms Canyon. This water has been over the Block Canyon and Hudson Canyon where excellent bigeye tuna and increasingly good marlin and yellowfin tuna action along with mahi and wahoo has been happening. We do not anticipate that this water will push over the main sections of the Toms Canyon and once it gets closer to Carteret Canyon (500-1000 fathoms) is likely to start moving more southward due to the pull by the Gulf Stream. There is blue water moving toward the Toms Canyon which suggests an significant improvement in the conditions there.
Bottom Line: The conditions over the Toms Canyon and the Norfolk Canyon areas are improving, while the other areas are not.
Please click HERE for full analysis PDF
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